TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Tulamben festival boasts jukung race, culinary fair
Change Size
Balinese artists perform during the opening of the 39th Bali Art Festival at the Bajra Sandhi Monument in Denpasar, Bali. (JP/Agung Parameswara)
Tulamben village in Bali is currently hosting the two-day Tulamben Wonder 2017 Festival until July 28.
The event aims to attract 18,640 foreign and 200 domestic tourists by featuring a variety of competitions, exhibitions and art and culture parade, including jukung race that challenges fishermen to showcase their skills in handling the traditional wooden boat using wind power.
“The two main agendas in the festival are jukung race and fishing tournament. The former is joined by 50 jukung [traditional wooden boat] and the latter by 60 people,” said Karangasem Tourism Agency head I Wayan Astika.
Read also: 6 recommended Balinese restaurants in Jakarta
“In Tulamben, the most famous fish is lemadang fish or mahi mahi, or also known as tumpek fish among Balinese,” he added.
The festival also features exhibition of handicrafts and local products, food stalls serving Balinese traditional cuisines, such as octopus satay, nasi beguling, belayag, tipat cantok and jaje Bali, and Balinese arts festival showcasing five art studios from Kubu and Karangasem.
“This festival also aims to introduce Kubu district as a developing area and promote Karangasem regency that is known for its nature and handicrafts,” said Wayan.
Read also: Penglipuran: Cleanliness through conservation
Tulamben is known for its eponymous beach that features corals instead of white or black sand. The most interesting thing about this destination is the ruins of United States cargo ship, USAT Liberty, which lies about 100 feet or 30 meters under the sea. The 50-meter-long ship sank in 1942 and is now home of plenty of colorful fish and coral reefs.
Another beautiful underwater spot at this beach is known as the Coral Garden.
Aside from the beach, Karangasem is also home to Besakih Hindu Temple that is considered to be the most important, largest and holiest temple of Hindu religion in Bali. (kes)
